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The Six Abilities

Dexterity

Dexterity measures agility, reflexes, and balance. It represents your ability to move quickly and precisely.

What Dexterity Does​

Dexterity affects many aspects of combat and exploration:

  • Ranged Attack Rolls: When you make an attack with a ranged weapon like a bow or crossbow, you add your Dexterity modifier to the attack roll.
  • Finesse Weapons: Some melee weapons have the finesse property, allowing you to use Dexterity instead of Strength for attack and damage rolls.
  • Armor Class: If you're not wearing armor, your AC equals 10 + your Dexterity modifier.
  • Initiative: You add your Dexterity modifier to initiative rolls to determine your turn order in combat.

Dexterity Skills​

Three skills rely on Dexterity:

  • Acrobatics: Staying on your feet in tricky situations, performing acrobatic stunts
  • Sleight of Hand: Manual tricks requiring nimble fingers, picking pockets, concealing objects
  • Stealth: Hiding from enemies, slinking past guards, sneaking up on someone

Dexterity Checks​

A Dexterity check can model any attempt to move nimbly, quickly, or quietly, or to keep from falling on tricky footing.

Common Uses​

  • Controlling a heavily laden cart on a steep descent
  • Steering a chariot around a tight turn
  • Picking a lock or disabling a trap
  • Playing a stringed instrument
  • Crafting small or detailed objects

Example Difficulties​

DCDifficultyExample
10EasyWalk across a narrow but stable surface
15MediumPick a simple lock or move silently
20HardWalk across a tightrope or pick a complex lock
25Very HardBalance on a swaying rope in high winds
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